Aug 14 In Which I Lose All Journalistic Credibility

In 2010, I started a marketing blog. I posted several times a week for several years. I pitched guest blog posts for other sites, and I accepted guest blog posts on mine. Over the years, I built up a steady stream of traffic. Then I took a full-time job, and had kids, and no longer had the time or interest to keep up a marketing blog.

I wrote my last post in late 2014, then redirected all the traffic to my new domain. I haven't updated that domain since 2016, because I've been writing daily posts here. But that hasn't stopped people from pitching me guest blog posts and other content.

Four days ago:

Kelly, You have a fantastic site! I wasn't sure if you are doing pillow reviews, but I wanted to inquire about this, since you have such an informative site.

Nine hours ago:

I’m reaching out to see if you would be interested in featuring Kickstarter’s #1 innovation in the underwear category on your website.

As an intern at a local magazine in college, my editor taught me to never accept free stuff, lest it sabotage my journalistic credibility. But the pitches keep getting weirder, and I have 144 more blog posts to write between now and the end of the year. Reviewing things like Kickstarter's #1 innovation in the underwear cateogry is starting to sound like a fun idea.

Can you imagine? Reading completely earnest reviews of whatever random, irrelevant thing some public relations company deems fit to send my way? Having the freedom to change your underwear quickly and conveniently without taking off your pants or shoes?